diff --git a/packages/core/src/__tests__/ai-summarize.test.ts b/packages/core/src/__tests__/ai-summarize.test.ts
index 8a1b07ad2..5fe03fdd5 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/__tests__/ai-summarize.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/__tests__/ai-summarize.test.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,18 @@
 import { describe, it, expect, beforeEach, vi } from "vitest";
 import {
   summarizeTitle,
+  summarizeCommitBody,
   checkRateLimit,
   getRateLimitResetTime,
   validateDescription,
   SUMMARIZE_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
+  COMMIT_BODY_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
   MAX_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH,
   MIN_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH,
   MAX_TITLE_LENGTH,
+  MAX_COMMIT_BODY_INPUT_LENGTH,
+  MAX_COMMIT_BODY_LENGTH,
+  DEFAULT_COMMIT_BODY_TIMEOUT_MS,
   MAX_REQUESTS_PER_HOUR,
   ValidationError,
   RateLimitError,
@@ -162,6 +167,73 @@ describe("ai-summarize", () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe("summarizeCommitBody", () => {
+    it("returns null for empty diff stat (nothing to summarize)", async () => {
+      expect(await summarizeCommitBody("", "/tmp")).toBeNull();
+      expect(await summarizeCommitBody("   \n  ", "/tmp")).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it("returns null when AI engine is unavailable (graceful, never throws)", async () => {
+      const result = await summarizeCommitBody(
+        "src/foo.ts | 5 +++--\n1 file changed",
+        "/tmp",
+      );
+      expect(result).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it("returns null when AI engine is unavailable even with model selection", async () => {
+      // Should NOT throw — the contract is fail-soft so the merger can fall
+      // back to its deterministic body cascade without losing the merge.
+      const result = await summarizeCommitBody(
+        "src/foo.ts | 5 +++--\n1 file changed",
+        "/tmp",
+        "anthropic",
+        "claude-sonnet-4-5",
+      );
+      expect(result).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it("returns null when caller's abort signal is already aborted", async () => {
+      const ac = new AbortController();
+      ac.abort();
+      const result = await summarizeCommitBody(
+        "src/foo.ts | 5 +++--\n1 file changed",
+        "/tmp",
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        { signal: ac.signal },
+      );
+      expect(result).toBeNull();
+    });
+
+    it("respects custom timeout (returns null on timeout, never hangs)", async () => {
+      // Timeout is 1ms — faster than any real AI call, and the helper aborts
+      // the in-flight session and returns null instead of hanging the merge.
+      const start = Date.now();
+      const result = await summarizeCommitBody(
+        "src/foo.ts | 5 +++--\n1 file changed",
+        "/tmp",
+        undefined,
+        undefined,
+        { timeoutMs: 1 },
+      );
+      const elapsed = Date.now() - start;
+      expect(result).toBeNull();
+      // Belt-and-braces: even if the engine isn't available the call should
+      // return very quickly. The 1s ceiling guards against future regressions
+      // that might accidentally block.
+      expect(elapsed).toBeLessThan(1000);
+    });
+
+    it("exposes sensible constants", () => {
+      expect(COMMIT_BODY_SYSTEM_PROMPT.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      expect(COMMIT_BODY_SYSTEM_PROMPT).toContain("commit message");
+      expect(MAX_COMMIT_BODY_INPUT_LENGTH).toBeGreaterThan(1000);
+      expect(MAX_COMMIT_BODY_LENGTH).toBeGreaterThan(100);
+      expect(DEFAULT_COMMIT_BODY_TIMEOUT_MS).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    });
+  });
+
   // ── Error Classes ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
   describe("error classes", () => {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/ai-summarize.ts b/packages/core/src/ai-summarize.ts
index 3d15e64e8..6f5db4ff7 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/ai-summarize.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/ai-summarize.ts
@@ -311,6 +311,174 @@ export async function summarizeTitle(
   }
 }
 
+// ── Commit Body Summarization ────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+/** System prompt for fallback merge commit body generation. */
+export const COMMIT_BODY_SYSTEM_PROMPT = `You write concise commit message bodies for merge commits.
+
+Your job is to summarize the changes described in a \`git diff --stat\` into a short, useful body.
+
+## Guidelines
+- Output ONLY the body text — no code fences, no preamble, no subject line
+- 2–6 short bullet points starting with "- "
+- Be specific about what changed; reference filenames where helpful
+- Keep total output under 600 characters
+- Do not invent details that aren't in the input — if uncertain, stay general`;
+
+/**
+ * Maximum input length for commit body summarization. Diff stats can be
+ * large; we truncate before sending so the prompt stays bounded.
+ */
+export const MAX_COMMIT_BODY_INPUT_LENGTH = 4000;
+
+/**
+ * Maximum output length for the generated commit body, in characters.
+ * Bounded so a runaway response doesn't bloat the commit message.
+ */
+export const MAX_COMMIT_BODY_LENGTH = 2000;
+
+/**
+ * Default timeout for commit body summarization, in milliseconds. Bounded
+ * so a slow / wedged AI session can't stall a merge indefinitely.
+ */
+export const DEFAULT_COMMIT_BODY_TIMEOUT_MS = 30_000;
+
+/**
+ * Summarize a `git diff --stat` (and optional context) into a short
+ * commit body via AI.
+ *
+ * Used by the merger as a fallback when the branch's commit log is empty
+ * (no unique commits, or `git log` failed) and we need to commit on the
+ * AI agent's behalf with a non-empty body.
+ *
+ * Best-effort: returns null on any failure (no AI runtime, timeout, empty
+ * response, error). Caller is expected to have a deterministic fallback
+ * (e.g. the diff stat itself or a synthetic placeholder) ready.
+ *
+ * Bounded by `timeoutMs` (default 30s) so it can't stall a merge
+ * indefinitely. The optional `signal` lets callers (engine pause / shutdown)
+ * tear down the AI session promptly.
+ *
+ * @param diffStat - Output of `git diff --stat` describing what changed.
+ * @param rootDir - Project root directory for AI agent context.
+ * @param provider - AI model provider (typically the title-summarizer lane).
+ * @param modelId - AI model ID.
+ * @param opts - Optional context (branch, taskId), abort signal, timeout.
+ * @returns The generated body, or null on any failure.
+ */
+export async function summarizeCommitBody(
+  diffStat: string,
+  rootDir: string,
+  provider?: string,
+  modelId?: string,
+  opts?: {
+    branch?: string;
+    taskId?: string;
+    signal?: AbortSignal;
+    timeoutMs?: number;
+  },
+): Promise<string | null> {
+  const trimmedStat = (diffStat ?? "").trim();
+  if (trimmedStat.length === 0) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const truncatedStat = trimmedStat.length > MAX_COMMIT_BODY_INPUT_LENGTH
+    ? trimmedStat.slice(0, MAX_COMMIT_BODY_INPUT_LENGTH) + "\n…(truncated)"
+    : trimmedStat;
+
+  const userPromptParts: string[] = [];
+  if (opts?.branch) userPromptParts.push(`Branch: ${opts.branch}`);
+  if (opts?.taskId) userPromptParts.push(`Task: ${opts.taskId}`);
+  if (userPromptParts.length > 0) userPromptParts.push("");
+  userPromptParts.push("Files changed (`git diff --stat`):");
+  userPromptParts.push(truncatedStat);
+  userPromptParts.push("");
+  userPromptParts.push("Write the commit body now.");
+  const userPrompt = userPromptParts.join("\n");
+
+  const timeoutMs = opts?.timeoutMs ?? DEFAULT_COMMIT_BODY_TIMEOUT_MS;
+  const aborter = new AbortController();
+  const timer = setTimeout(() => aborter.abort(), timeoutMs);
+  if (opts?.signal) {
+    if (opts.signal.aborted) aborter.abort();
+    else opts.signal.addEventListener("abort", () => aborter.abort(), { once: true });
+  }
+
+  let session: Awaited<ReturnType<NonNullable<Awaited<ReturnType<typeof getFnAgent>>>>>["session"] | undefined;
+  try {
+    const createFnAgent = await getFnAgent();
+    if (!createFnAgent) {
+      if (DEBUG) console.log("[ai-summarize] AI engine not available for commit body");
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const agentOptions: {
+      cwd: string;
+      systemPrompt: string;
+      tools: "readonly";
+      defaultProvider?: string;
+      defaultModelId?: string;
+    } = {
+      cwd: rootDir,
+      systemPrompt: COMMIT_BODY_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
+      tools: "readonly",
+    };
+    if (provider && modelId) {
+      agentOptions.defaultProvider = provider;
+      agentOptions.defaultModelId = modelId;
+    }
+
+    const agentResult = await createFnAgent(agentOptions);
+    if (!agentResult?.session) return null;
+    session = agentResult.session;
+
+    await session.prompt(userPrompt);
+    if (aborter.signal.aborted) return null;
+
+    if (session.state?.error) {
+      if (DEBUG) console.log(`[ai-summarize] Commit-body session error: ${session.state.error}`);
+      return null;
+    }
+
+    const messages: AgentMessage[] = session.state?.messages ?? [];
+    const assistant = messages.filter((m: AgentMessage) => m.role === "assistant").pop();
+    if (!assistant?.content) return null;
+
+    let body = "";
+    if (typeof assistant.content === "string") {
+      body = assistant.content;
+    } else if (Array.isArray(assistant.content)) {
+      body = assistant.content
+        .filter((c: { type: string; text?: string }): c is { type: "text"; text: string } =>
+          c.type === "text" && typeof c.text === "string",
+        )
+        .map((c) => c.text)
+        .join("");
+    }
+    body = body.trim();
+    if (!body) return null;
+
+    if (body.length > MAX_COMMIT_BODY_LENGTH) {
+      body = body.slice(0, MAX_COMMIT_BODY_LENGTH).trim();
+    }
+    return body;
+  } catch (err) {
+    if (DEBUG) {
+      const message = err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err);
+      console.log(`[ai-summarize] Commit-body generation failed: ${message}`);
+    }
+    return null;
+  } finally {
+    clearTimeout(timer);
+    try {
+      session?.dispose?.();
+    } catch {
+      // ignore disposal errors
+    }
+  }
+}
+
 // ── Test Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 /**
diff --git a/packages/core/src/index.ts b/packages/core/src/index.ts
index 34aca9f95..85bc14c34 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/index.ts
@@ -184,13 +184,18 @@ export type {
 
 export {
   summarizeTitle,
+  summarizeCommitBody,
   checkRateLimit,
   getRateLimitResetTime,
   validateDescription,
   SUMMARIZE_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
+  COMMIT_BODY_SYSTEM_PROMPT,
   MAX_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH,
   MIN_DESCRIPTION_LENGTH,
   MAX_TITLE_LENGTH,
+  MAX_COMMIT_BODY_INPUT_LENGTH,
+  MAX_COMMIT_BODY_LENGTH,
+  DEFAULT_COMMIT_BODY_TIMEOUT_MS,
   MAX_REQUESTS_PER_HOUR,
   ValidationError,
   RateLimitError,
diff --git a/packages/engine/src/merger.ts b/packages/engine/src/merger.ts
index 362ee8bd3..80fec2147 100644
--- a/packages/engine/src/merger.ts
+++ b/packages/engine/src/merger.ts
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ import {
   normalizeMergeConflictStrategy,
   resolveProjectDefaultModel,
   resolveAgentPrompt,
+  summarizeCommitBody,
   type TaskStore,
   type MergeResult,
   type MergeDetails,
@@ -1882,9 +1883,9 @@ function quoteArg(value: string): string {
  * Cascade — most informative first, deterministic fallback at the end so
  * the function NEVER returns an empty string and NEVER throws:
  *   1. The branch's commit log if non-empty.
- *   2. AI-generated body, summarized from the diff stat. Bounded by
- *      `aiTimeoutMs` (default 30s); any failure / timeout / empty response
- *      falls through.
+ *   2. AI-generated body via `summarizeCommitBody` from `@fusion/core`,
+ *      using the title-summarizer model lane when configured. Bounded by
+ *      a timeout; any failure / timeout / empty response falls through.
  *   3. The diff stat formatted as a "Files changed" listing.
  *   4. A synthetic `- merge <branch>` placeholder.
  */
@@ -1903,57 +1904,11 @@ async function resolveSafeCommitBody(opts: {
 
   const cleanStat = opts.diffStat.trim();
   if (cleanStat.length > 0) {
-    const ai = await aiGenerateCommitBody({
-      rootDir: opts.rootDir,
-      taskId: opts.taskId,
-      branch: opts.branch,
-      diffStat: cleanStat,
-      settings: opts.settings,
-      signal: opts.signal,
-      timeoutMs: opts.aiTimeoutMs ?? 30_000,
-    }).catch(() => null);
-    if (ai && ai.trim().length > 0) return ai.trim();
-    return `Files changed:\n\n${cleanStat}`;
-  }
-
-  return `- merge ${opts.branch}`;
-}
-
-/**
- * Try to summarize a diff stat into a short commit body via a fresh
- * readonly AI session. Returns null on any failure (no runtime,
- * timeout, empty response, error). Bounded so it can't stall a merge.
- */
-async function aiGenerateCommitBody(opts: {
-  rootDir: string;
-  taskId: string;
-  branch: string;
-  diffStat: string;
-  settings: Settings;
-  signal?: AbortSignal;
-  timeoutMs: number;
-}): Promise<string | null> {
-  const truncatedStat = truncateWithEllipsis(opts.diffStat, 4000);
-  const systemPrompt =
-    `You write concise commit message bodies. Output ONLY the body text — no code fences, no preamble, no subject line. ` +
-    `2–6 short bullet points starting with "- ". Be specific about what changed; reference filenames where helpful.`;
-  const userPrompt =
-    `Branch: ${opts.branch}\nTask: ${opts.taskId}\n\nFiles changed (\`git diff --stat\`):\n${truncatedStat}\n\n` +
-    `Write the commit body now.`;
-
-  const aborter = new AbortController();
-  const timer = setTimeout(() => aborter.abort(), opts.timeoutMs);
-  if (opts.signal) {
-    if (opts.signal.aborted) aborter.abort();
-    else opts.signal.addEventListener("abort", () => aborter.abort(), { once: true });
-  }
-
-  let session: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof createResolvedAgentSession>>["session"] | undefined;
-  try {
-    // Prefer the dedicated title-summarization model from settings — it's a
-    // small, fast model intended exactly for short summarization tasks like
-    // this. Falls back to the merger's default model only when the
-    // summarization model isn't configured.
+    // Prefer the dedicated title-summarization model — a small, fast tier
+    // intended for short summarization. Falls back to the project / global
+    // default model when the summarizer lane isn't configured. The core
+    // `summarizeCommitBody` helper handles missing-runtime / timeout / empty
+    // response gracefully and returns null.
     const useTitleSummarizer =
       !!opts.settings.titleSummarizerProvider && !!opts.settings.titleSummarizerModelId;
     const provider = useTitleSummarizer
@@ -1967,52 +1922,17 @@ async function aiGenerateCommitBody(opts: {
           ? opts.settings.defaultModelIdOverride
           : opts.settings.defaultModelId);
 
-    const created = await createResolvedAgentSession({
-      sessionPurpose: "merger",
-      cwd: opts.rootDir,
-      systemPrompt,
-      tools: "readonly",
-      defaultProvider: provider,
-      defaultModelId: modelId,
-    });
-    session = created.session;
-    await session.prompt(userPrompt);
-    if (aborter.signal.aborted) return null;
-
-    const messages = (session.state?.messages ?? []) as Array<{
-      role?: string;
-      content?: unknown;
-    }>;
-    const last = messages.filter((m) => m.role === "assistant").pop();
-    if (!last || !last.content) return null;
-
-    let text = "";
-    if (typeof last.content === "string") {
-      text = last.content;
-    } else if (Array.isArray(last.content)) {
-      for (const block of last.content) {
-        if (
-          block &&
-          typeof block === "object" &&
-          "text" in block &&
-          typeof (block as { text: unknown }).text === "string"
-        ) {
-          text += (block as { text: string }).text;
-        }
-      }
-    }
-    text = text.trim();
-    return text.length > 0 ? text : null;
-  } catch {
-    return null;
-  } finally {
-    clearTimeout(timer);
-    try {
-      session?.dispose?.();
-    } catch {
-      // ignore disposal errors
-    }
+    const ai = await summarizeCommitBody(cleanStat, opts.rootDir, provider, modelId, {
+      branch: opts.branch,
+      taskId: opts.taskId,
+      signal: opts.signal,
+      timeoutMs: opts.aiTimeoutMs,
+    }).catch(() => null);
+    if (ai && ai.trim().length > 0) return ai.trim();
+    return `Files changed:\n\n${cleanStat}`;
   }
+
+  return `- merge ${opts.branch}`;
 }
 
 /**